Supporting and rotational resetting device on a tunnel-driving machine

ABSTRACT

A tunnel-driving device comprising a machine frame for a driving machine which rotatably drives a tunnel-extracting tool. The machine frame is centrally positioned in respect to the tunnel by a forward bracing assembly and a rear bracing assembly having elements which may be moved outwardly into engagement with the tunnel wall.

United States Patent Inventors Gerd Kampl-Emden;

Heinz Robert Horst; Friedrich Wilhelm Klapdohr, all of Rheinhausen, Germany App1.No. 872,827 Filed Oct. 31, 1969 Patented Nov. 9, 1971 Priority Nov. 9, 1968 Germany SUPPORTING AND ROTATIONAL RESETTING DEVICE ON A TUNNEL-DRIVING MACHINE 5 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

11.8. C1 299/31, 175/94 Int. C1 .tE21c 29/02, EOlg 3/04 [50] Field ofSearch 299/31 [561 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,061,288 10/1962 Robbins 299/31 3.295.892 1/1967 Winberg et a1. 299/31 Primary Examiner-Ernest R. Purser AHurney-McGlew and Toren ABSTRACT: A tunnel-driving device comprising a machine frame for a driving machine which rotatably drives a tunnelextracting tool. The machine frame is centrally positioned in respect to the tunnel by a forward bracing assembly and a rear bracing assembly having elements which may be moved outwardly into engagement with the tunnel wail.

PATENTEDunv 9 Ian 3,619,008

INVENTORS Gerd KAMPF- EMDEN Heinz HORST Friedrich KLAPDOHR their ATTORNEY SUPPORTING AND ROTATIONAL RESETTING DEVICE ON A TUNNEL-DRIVING MACHINE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to the construction of mining or excavating devices and in particular to a new and useful tunnel driving machine which is supported by spaced bracings within the tunnel and which includes a combination supporting device and rotational device for setting the rotational orientation of the machine in respect to the tunnel.

The known supports for tunnel driving machines usually comprise pairs of supporting piston-and-cylinder units carried on radially extending arms which may be firmly secured against the wall on the tunnel by extending a piston member within its associated cylinder to cause an outer plate element thereon to engage against the tunnel wall. In addition, additional supporting elements or braces are employed for the purpose of temporarily supporting the machine when it is necessary to retract the main supporting elements and to move them forwardly in a tunnel. The latter bracing devices usually operate to engage bridge-type supports which are slid along the tunnel floor during the driving stroke. In the driving of tunnels there is also required means for supporting the machine on some means for rotationally resetting the machine because during the driving the exact normal position of the machine is not always maintained because of the forces acting on the driving tool. During driving the entire tunnel driving machine will gradually twist due to the torque acting on the bracing devices especially when driving in broken rock formations and clay, but also even when driving in homogeneous formations. Because of this it is necessary to turn the driving machine back to a central position after each driving operation.

This rotational resetting is carried out at the present time by means of installation aids, such as winches, presses or the like, which require a great deal of additional effort and time to operate. The known resetting devices are separate devices which are entirely independent of the supporting and bracing elements of the machine and generally they must be set up on the site. Therefore, the known devices for turning the machine back to its initial position are too expensive and require too much time to operate and in addition, they do not insure an exact rotational resetting of the machine.

In accordance with the present invention the drilling machine is supported by known supporting devices and in addition, the machine frame carries a combination supporting element and rotational resetting device which includes one or more piston-and-cylinder elements which are engageable with the machine frame for rotating it back to a reset position after each drilling operation. This combination device includes fluid-pressure-operated bridge-engaging feet which are moved outwardly to engage a bridge member which is slid thereunder by the advancing movement of the drilling machine in order to provide a firm mounting for the support element for the resetting operation. The machine frame is reset to its original position preferably by the use of oppositely arranged pistonand-cylinder units having piston rods which engage centrally at a common point on a bracket contained on the frame and which when operated will provide the rotatable resetting motion of the machine frame. By combining the supporting and resetting device into a single unit which is carried on the machine, a relatively easy and exact turning back of the machine is possible without requiring the set up of elaborate turning elements in the tunnel and by the expenditure of a much shorter amount of time.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide means associated with a drilling machine frame during its advance through a tunnel for rotatably shifting the machine about its longitudinal axis for the purpose of resetting it after it has been turned during a drilling operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combined supporting and resetting device for association with a tunnel driving machine which includes a support member providing a rotational support for a cylindrical portion of the machine and which includes fluid-pressure-operated engaging feet which depend downwardly therefrom and which may be moved to engage against bracing means on a tunnel wall, and further including a fluid pressure operated member connected to the machine frame and supported on the supporting device and being operable to rotate the machine frame on the support member.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tunnel driving machine and resetting device which is simple in design, rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize this invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims an nexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view through a tunnel indicating a side elevational view of a tunnel driving machine constructed in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a section taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings and in particular the invention embodied therein comprises a tunnel driving machine which includes a machine frame 1 having drive elements 11 which are supported around a central drive shaft 20 which is connected at its outer forward end to a tunnel driving tool 10. The machine frame 1 includes a relatively small diameter cylindrical portion 1a which is supported by a front main bracing 2 and a rear main bracing 3 which may, for example, comprise bracing elements which extend radially outwardly from the machine frame la against the wall of the tunnel to support the machine in a working position. In accordance with the invention a combination supporting a rotational resetting device 20 is associated with the machine frame portion la for rotatably supporting the machine frame preferably at a forward and a rear location as indicated generally by the number 4 and 4' respectively. The combination supporting and rotational resetting devices 20 at locations 4 and 4' are substantially identical and include a receiving sleeve or carrier 6 which provides a rotational support for the machine frame portion la. The carrier 6 engages around the machine frame portion la and provides a rotational bearing to permit the machine frame 1 to be shifted about its longitudinal axis.

The carrier 6 is in the form of a housing and is provided with lateral extensions or mounts for extensible supporting feet 5 which are formed at the end of piston rods 50 which are slidable in fluid pressure cylinders 5b of the piston-and-cylinder units carried on each side of the carrier 6. The piston rods 50 move in a vertical direction for the purpose of extending or retracting the feet 5. The feet 5 are extended to engage a bridge member or a floor support 9 which is slid along the tunnel floor with the machine during the tunnel excavation. The feet 5 are extended when it is desired to reset the machine after a drilling operation. After the feet 5 are anchored firmly the front and rear bracings 2 and 3 are detached from the tunnel and the machine frame 1 is rotated as desired to return it back to normal.

In accordance with the feature of the invention the rotational means on the combined supporting and rotational resetting devices 20, 20 comprises a set of opposed fluid pressure operated cylinders 7 each having a piston rod portion 7a arranged on respective sides of a central bracket member 8 which is secured to the cylindrical portion 1a of the machine frame 1. The piston rods 70, 70 on the respective sides of the bracket engage at a common point of support 8 and thus. when one is extended and the other retracted, rotational movement is carried out in one direction and an opposite movement is carried out when the reverse procedure is effected.

During the driving operation, the machine frame 1 is held in the tunnel by the front bracing 2 and the rear bracing 3. After the completed driving stroke the machine is then supported on the combination supporting and rotational resetting device 4 or 4 and the bracings are detached and pulled along with the machine during its advance. The rotational resetting of the machine permits elimination of the gradual twist or inclination of the entire machine which is brought about by drilling especially when driving is carried out in a combination of broken rock and clay formations.

What is claimed is:

1. A combined tunnel driving machine supporting-and-rotational-resetting device comprising a support carrier including a central cylindrical-supporting-sleeve for rotatably supporting the housing of a tunnel driving machine, extensible-foot means on said carrier, means associated with said feet for extending said feet to engage them within the tunnel for supporting said device, and drive means mounted on said carrier and adapted to be connected to said machine frame and being movable for rotationally shifting said machine frame within said carrier, said drive means comprising a fluid-pressure cylinder arranged on each side of said carrier and on each side of the center of said machine frame, a bracket adapted to be connected to said machine frame and having a central pivotal point located between said fluidpressure cylinders, each of said cylinders including a piston rod articulated to said central pivotal point on said bracket, said piston rod being shiftable for rotating said machine frame in a selected direction.

2. A device according to claim 1 said foot means includes, a plurality of extensible feet, a fluid-pressure-operated cylinder associated with each of said feet, a piston slidable in said cylinder and connected to and associated with respective ones of said feet, said piston being movable to extend said feet.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein there is one of said feet arranged on each side of the central line of said carrier and which move vertically.

4. A device according to claim 3, including a bridge member slidable along the tunnel with said device and being locatable below said feet to permit engagement of the feet therewith for supporting said carrier.

5. A combined tunnel driving machine supportingsupporting-and-rotational-resetting device comprising a support carrier including a central cylindrical-supporting sleeve for rotatably supporting the housing of a tunnel driving machine, extensible foot means on said carrier, means associated with said feet for extending said feet to engage them within the tunnel for supporting said device, drive means mounted on said carrier and adapted to be connected to said machine frame and being movable for rotationally shifting said machine frame within said carrier, a machine frame rotatably supported in said carrier, a tunnel driving tool mounted for rotation on said machine frame, a bracket connected to said machine frame and extending outwardly therefrom, said drive means comprising a piston rod extending on each side of said bracket and articulated to a common point on said bracket, and fluid-cylinder means associated with each of said piston rods for shifting said bracket with said machine frame for rotating said machine frame within said carrier. 

1. A combined tunnel driving machine supporting-and-rotationalresetting device comprising a support carrier including a central cylindrical-supporting-sleeve for rotatably supporting the housing of a tunnel driving machine, extensible-foot means on said carrier, means associated with said feet for extending said feet to engage them within the tunnel for supporting said device, and drive means mounted on said carrier and adapted to be connected to said machine frame and being movable for rotationally shifting said machine frame within said carrier, said drive means comprising a fluid-pressure cylinder arranged on each side of said carrier and on each side of the center of said machine frame, a bracket adapted to be connected to said machine frame and having a central pivotal point located between said fluid- pressure cylinders, each of said cylinders including a piston rod articulated to said central pivotal point on said bracket, said piston rod being shiftable for rotating said machine frame in a selected direction.
 2. A device according to claim 1 said foot means includes, a plurality of extensible feet, a fluid-pressure-operated cylinder associated with each of said feet, a piston slidable in said cylinder and connected to and associated with respective ones of said feet, said piston being movable to extend said feet.
 3. A device according to claim 2, wherein there is one of said feet arranged on each side of the central line of said carrier and which move vertically.
 4. A device according to claim 3, including a bridge member slidable along the tunnel with said device and being locatable below said feet to permit engagement of the feet therewith for supporting said carrier.
 5. A combined tunnel driving machine supporting- supporting-and-rotational-resetting device comprising a support carrier including a central cylindrical-supporting sleeve for rotatably supporting the housing of a tunnel driving machine, extensible foot means on said carrier, means associated with said feet for extending said feet to engage them within the tunnel for supporting said device, drive means mounted on said carrier and adapted to be connected to saiD machine frame and being movable for rotationally shifting said machine frame within said carrier, a machine frame rotatably supported in said carrier, a tunnel driving tool mounted for rotation on said machine frame, a bracket connected to said machine frame and extending outwardly therefrom, said drive means comprising a piston rod extending on each side of said bracket and articulated to a common point on said bracket, and fluid-cylinder means associated with each of said piston rods for shifting said bracket with said machine frame for rotating said machine frame within said carrier. 